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Back-to-school shopping is often stressful and time consuming, whether you’re buying for kindergarten or college. When you’re headed to a dorm room for the first time, stocking up on the right appliances and room fixtures can add up, as can dorm room necessities. We've found the best ideas to achieve this on any budget. You can prioritize adding style through the items you use every day for comfort and organization. Then, add on to your space with personal elements that will really make the space your own.
To get you started, here are some easy, budget friendly dorm room ideas that will turn your space from drab to fab.
1. Get cozy with a blanket
Throw some blankets over the cough for warmth and comfort.
Most of all, you want your dorm to be a place of rest and relaxation filled with soft, cozy details that you can bundle up with.
Wu says, “Pillows and blankets are cheaper than full furniture items, and you can get more creative and unique with colors and textures. Layering in these pieces will make the dorm room feel more cozy and homey while away for college.”
Upgrade your old fleece blanket to something more sophisticated like a chic throw, which will also add some texture to your room. Plus, it’s a nice blanket to lay under while watching Netflix at the end of the day.
We spoke to Farris Wu, founder and CEO of augmented reality interior design site Decor Matters, and Devin Shaffer, the lead interior designer at online interior design service Decorilla, for their professional insights on how to own your space.
Wu notes that style is just as important as functionality. “Making your dorm room feel like your home will contribute to your mental health, and may even have an impact on your entire college experience,” he says. “Create a cozy and vibrant environment regardless of if you're in an apartment, dorm room, or home. Decorating your room can often be an escape from the stress of school work and life.”
Cotton Stitch Throw at TJ Maxx for $30
2. A basket to store blankets
Add a basket to your space to store blankets or other items.
Keep your extra blankets in order by adding a large basket to store your throws in when they’re not in use. Or, you can use the basket to store every day items. This helps keep your room organized while also adding something trendy to your space.
CHICVITA Square Cotton Rope Woven Basket at Amazon for $17
3. A desk organizer and lamp for a pop of color
Add a pop of color on your dorm room desk.
For most college students, a dorm room is a blank slate with nondescript, standard furniture. It’s your job to dress it up.
Go for pops of color wherever you can, especially on items you plan on using anyway. This is an excellent way of doubling down on items you know you need but that will add some extra color.
A fun desk organizer comes in a variety of colors and adds wow factor. Bonus points for adding a matching desk lamp to complete the look on your desk.
Desk Organizer at Macy's for $42
Limelight's Desk Organizer Desk Lamp at Macy's for $29
4. Lighting makes or breaks ambiance
Add lights for warmth and ambiance.
The overhead lighting in your dorm room won’t provide the comfortable lighting you want or need, so when it comes to dorm-room living, you must bring your own.
Shaffer says, “Even the best room can be ruined by poor lighting. Do not let it be your room.” Whether the lighting you choose is high-end or affordable doesn’t matter.
Our favorite way to add lighting and décor on a budget is with a set of string lights. You can find great options under $20.
A battery powered option has an easy on and off switch, and it typically comes with a super flexible cord that you can use to wrap around your bed frame or tuck into a mason jar for a DIY lighting feature.
Room Essentials LED Fairy Lights at Target for $10
5. Reflect your style by adding mirrors
Add some dimension to your room with mirrors.
Adding a mirror to your dorm actually helps create space, says Wu.
“Mirrors give the illusion of both a larger and brighter space. Because mirrors reflect light, they help add more depth to corners and tight areas, while also seeming to enlarge them,” he explains.
Go beyond a small vanity mirror and upgrade to something bigger for your dorm room décor. You can lean a wall mirror on top of a dresser to avoid any in-wall installation. One with a sleek, arched shape is functional and adds some art deco design flair.
Full length mirrors are also a great option if you have extra space in your room or in the hallway of a shared suite.
To take advantage of illusion, try placing a full length mirror in the corner of a room to help give some extra depth and dimension.
Varena Arched Wall Mirror at Urban Outfitters for $69
Framed Door Mirror at Target for $7
6. Hang a reminder of home and family
Display fond memories in photos and photo stands.
Wu tells us, “Your personal life and story are the best way to bring personality to the room. Placing pictures and art that hold sentimental value remind you that the space is yours and help you to feel at home while away from home.”
Getting your favorite photos printed on a budget is a breeze, especially with an array of direct-to-consumer options. Prints from Artifact Uprising are less than a dollar per photo print and come in different sizes and the option to add borders.
You can get creative with how you choose to display your photos, too. For example, photo stands take up less space than a frame, and you can easily swap photos in and out.
Square Print Set at Artifact Uprising from $9
7. Add some life with greenery (it doesn’t need to be real!)
Add greenery to your dorm room space.
Let’s be honest, the life of a college student gets busy. Between classes, extracurriculars, spending time with friends, and trying to take care of yourself—you’ll wish you had an extra hour in the day.
The added responsibility of taking care of a plant may seem like an impossible feat, even though you may want a punch of life in your dorm room décor, so this is where fake plants come in.
Not only can they look just as lovely as a real plant, but they’re often more affordable.
Try a realistic looking snake plant in a cute pot that you can put on a window sill or on top of a dresser.
Another great option is faux ivy vines that you can drape across windows and down walls to bring the outdoors to your dorm.
Faux Snake Plant at Amazon for $30
Decorative Vines Set at Urban Outfitters for $14
8. Don’t forget to have fun with your dorm room décor
Add some fun decor to your dorm room.
Small room accessories may seem unnecessary, but having them around your room will add a ton of personality to your space. They can be functional or perhaps exist only to put a smile on your face.
Choosing fun details like a vintage-inspired alarm clock adds a unique detail with a distinct aesthetic. Trays are a fun way to keep knickknacks organized, but they should have some character themselves.
Allow your friends to leave notes with a dual chalkboard and letterboard. Sure, you can also use it as a place to write out a to-do list and increase productivity; however, we like this as a way to add some customizable dorm room décor.
“Set a direction for yourself. Look through different interior design styles and choose the one (or the mix) that you like the most,” Schaffer says. “Create a new Pinterest board and collect pictures of rooms and objects you love.”
Alarm Clock at Urban Outfitters for $30
Alice Mauve Tray at Urban Outfitters for $59
Chalkboard Set at Target for $64
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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
